Genes. 13. ver. 8. to the end, is a remarkable Scripture to show how God is with a loving, gentle, peaceable disposition. Ver. 8. 9. we have Abraham's kind gentle yielding to Lot his inferior for peace sake; but mark what follows, and you shall find he lost nothing by this his yielding: for as soon as Lot was gone from him, the Lord came to him, ver. 14. and said to him, Lift up now thine eyes and look from the place where thou art, Northward, Southward, Eastward and Westward, for ⟨p. 301⟩all the Land that thou seest to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever: arise, walk thorough, the Land in the length of it, and in the breadth of it, for I will give it unto thee. The difference of what Jacob says of Reuben when he was to dye, Gen. 49. 4. from that of Moses, Deut. 33. 6. is observable: Jacob says, He is the first borne, the beginning of his strength; but he shall not excel, because he went to his fathers bed. But Moses, Let Reuben live and not dye, and let not his men be few. The reason of this difference is given by some, because it was fit that Jacob, to deter his other children, should exercise the authority of a father, but Moses frees him from the curse, because he was always loving to his brother Joseph. Brotherly love hath a blessing going along with it: God loves it exceedingly, for it makes much for the glory of God. And to what purpose do we live, if God have not glory by us? Rom. 15. 5, 6, 7. the Apostle first prays that the God of patience and consolation would grant them to be like minded one towards another, according to Christ Jesus, that they may with one mind and one mouth glorify God. Then he exhorts: Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. Much of Gods glory depends upon our union. Yea God stands so much upon this, that he is willing to stay for his service till we be at peace one with another. Mat. 5. 23, 24. Leave thy gift before the Altar, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. My worship shall stay till you be reconciled. I love my worship, and desire it much, but I must have peace and love amongst your selves first, I will stay for that. But I beseech you let us not make God stay too long. Remember while you are wrangling and quarrelling, God stays on you all this while.
Genes. 13. ver. 8. to the end, is a remarkable Scripture to shew how God is with a loving, gentle, peaceable disposition. Ver. 8. 9. we have Abrahams kinde gentle yeelding to Lot his inferiour for peace sake; but mark what followes, and you shall finde he lost nothing by this his yeelding: for as soone as Lot was gone from him, the Lord came to him, ver. 14. and said to him, Lift up now thine eyes and looke from the place where thou art, Northward, Southward, Eastward and Westward, for ⟨p. 301⟩all the Land that thou seest to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever: arise, walke thorough, the Land in the length of it, and in the breadth of it, for I will give it unto thee. The difference of what Jacob sayes of Reuben when he was to dye, Gen. 49. 4. from that of Moses, Deut. 33. 6. is observable: Jacob sayes, Hee is the first borne, the beginning of his strength; but he shall not excell, because he went to his fathers bed. But Moses, Let Reuben live and not dye, and let not his men be few. The reason of this difference is given by some, because it was fit that Jacob, to deter his other children, should exercise the authority of a father, but Moses frees him from the curse, because he was alwayes loving to his brother Ioseph. Brotherly love hath a blessing going along with it: God loves it exceedingly, for it makes much for the glory of God. And to what purpose do we live, if God have not glory by us? Rom. 15. 5, 6, 7. the Apostle first prayes that the God of patience and consolution would grant them to be like minded one towards another, according to Christ Jesus, that they may with one minde and one mouth glorifie God. Then he exhorts: Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. Much of Gods glory depends upon our union. Yea God stands so much upon this, that he is willing to stay for his service till we be at peace one with another. Mat. 5. 23, 24. Leave thy gift before the Altar, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. My worship shall stay till you be reconciled. I love my worship, and desire it much, but I must have peace and love amongst your selves first, I will stay for that. But I beseech you let us not make God stay too long. Remember while you are wrangling and quarrelling, God stayes on you all this while.
